Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is set to hold a special event to recognize Holocaust Remembrance Day on May 6th at 5:30 p.m. in Davies Center’s Woodland Theater on campus.

Jodi Thesing-Ritter, the director of the Center for EDI Training, Development, and Education, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, "Hosting the Holocaust Day of Remembrance at UW-Eau Claire is important because it serves as a solemn reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust, educates students and the community about the dangers of hatred and discrimination, and fosters a commitment to promoting tolerance, empathy and human rights." Thesing-Ritter added, "It also honors the memory of the millions who perished and provides an opportunity for reflection and commemoration."

Dr. Aleks Sternfeld-Dunn, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will be the keynote speaker at the event, addressing the topic of “Jewishness: Art for Identity, Art for Healing.”

During the event, UW-Eau Claire students involved in research related to locating Holocaust mass execution trenches and burials in Latvia and Lithuania will present their findings. This research, supported by an International Fellows-funded program, is part of a documentary by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Paula S. Apsell, “Resistance: They Fought Back,” which premiered in April, highlighting Jewish resistance during World War II.

In addition to the main event, Andy Gaertner will present “Who am I? Researching Ancestry” on May 2 at UW-Eau Claire – Barron County. Dr. Lauren Wentz, a professor of biology, will present on “Something’s Burning: Waste Incineration” on April 25, and Dr. Steve Ackerman, professor emeritus of atmospheric and oceanic sciences at UW-Madison, will discuss the 1975 catastrophe on April 11 at UW-Eau Claire – Barron County.